Facsimile machine having multi-purpose data ports for signal routing and data management

ABSTRACT

A facsimile machine that is capable of receiving, transmitting and storing both document images and data transfers, identifying the appropriate device the data transfer is intended for, and providing the data transfer to the appropriate device is disclosed. A facsimile machine is provided with one or more ports for coupling with other office equipment, such as, for example, postage meters, postage scales, personal computers, etc. Data transfers from a service center or the like are received by the facsimile machine and identified as to which device is the intended recipient. The facsimile machine can then send the data transfer to the intended device, or store the data transfer for sending to the intended device at a later time. Accordingly, only a single analog telephone line is required for all of the devices coupled to the facsimile machine.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/851,074,filed May 8, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. XXXXXX, which is acontinuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 09/470,585,filed Dec. 22, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,113, and Ser. No.09/470,730, filed Dec. 22, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,133, theentirety of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein relates generally to communicationsystems, and more particularly to a facsimile machine havingmulti-purpose data ports for routing and transfer of data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many businesses, a wide variety of devices are utilized that need toconduct communications over a standard telephone line from time to time.Technological advances have enabled facsimile machines to becomestandard equipment in every office environment, from large corporationsto the smallest businesses. Facsimile machines operate by encoding animage on a paper into a series of tones that are then transmitted overthe telephone network to a receiving facsimile machine. The receivingfacsimile machine decodes the transmitted message and reconstructs theimage. Standard facsimile protocols for effectuating communicationsbetween facsimile machines have been defined, and most facsimilemachines operate using one or more such protocols. The typicalconnection method for most facsimile machines is via a telephone line ofa Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). It is therefore necessary toprovision a telephone line for use by each facsimile machine.

Typical office environments also include additional devices utilized forefficient operation of the office which also need to conductcommunications over a standard telephone line from time to time. Forexample, many office environments include one or more postage meters,postage scales, and mailing equipment for the processing of mail, aswell as several personal computers.

In many commercial applications, it is necessary to be able to remotelydiagnose, update, refill and retrieve information from such devices. Forinstance, postage scales may require postage rate updates from time totime so that the correct postage for a particular mail piece can bedetermined based upon the weight of that mail piece. A postage scale mayalso need servicing from time to time and the ability to remotelydiagnose the condition of the scale is useful for such purpose.Similarly, a postage meter needs to have funds refilled periodically,and may also need servicing from time to time, thereby requiring remoteaccess. One way to achieve the remote access for such devices is to havethe devices continuously connected to a telephone line to receiveupdated rate data or funds from a service center and to providediagnostic data to the service center. However, such continuousconnections may be cost prohibitive for the user, as each devicerequires its own dedicated telephone line. Providing a dedicatedtelephone line for each device will significantly increase costs, as itis then necessary for the user to obtain and pay for multiple telephonelines, one for each piece of equipment.

Another way to achieve remote access for several devices withoutproviding multiple telephone lines is to provide some type of switchingmechanism to switch between the several devices coupled to a singletelephone. Utilizing a switching mechanism can be cumbersome andawkward, especially if it is necessary to switch between devices severaltimes during the course of a day. Additionally, if a data transfer is tobe received and the switch is not set to the right device, the datatransfer will be unable to be completed.

Thus, there exists a need for a device that can receive, transmit andstore data transfers intended for one of several devices, such as, forexample, software upgrades, funds transfer, diagnostic information, andthe like, and provide the received data to the appropriate device,thereby eliminating the need for multiple telephone lines or a switchingmechanism to switch between the multiple devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention alleviates the problems associated with the priorart and provides a facsimile machine that is capable of receiving,transmitting and storing both document images and data transfers,identifying the appropriate device the data transfer is intended for,and providing the data transfer to or from the appropriate device.

In accordance with the present invention, a facsimile machine isprovided with one or more ports for coupling with other officeequipment, such as, for example, postage meters, postage scales,personal computers, etc. Data transfers from a service center or thelike are received by the facsimile machine and identified as to whichdevice is the intended recipient. The facsimile machine can then sendthe data transfer or retrieve to the intended device, or store the datatransfer for sending to the intended device at a later time.Additionally, the facsimile machine can retrieve data transfers from thecoupled devices for transfer to a service center. Accordingly, only asingle analog telephone line is required for all of the devices coupledto the facsimile machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description,taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a portion of a typical customer equipmentmodule used in the system 10 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the facsimile machine illustrated in FIG. 1according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates in flow diagram form the receipt and routing of datatransfers according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In describing the present invention, reference is made to the drawings,wherein there is seen in FIG. 1 a system 10 according to the presentinvention. The system 10 provides for communication with one or moretypes of customer equipment and a third party, such as, for example, aservice center, by directing incoming data transfers from the thirdparty equipment to the appropriate customer equipment connected theretoand by retrieving data transfers from the customer equipment for sendingto the third party equipment as will be described below.

System 10 includes a facsimile machine 12 coupled to a telephone line 14via analog port 16 for receiving or transmitting an incoming or outgoingtelecommunications signal. One or more types of customer equipmentmodules 22, such as, for example, a postage scale, a postage meter, amailing machine, a personal computer, etc., are coupled to the facsimilemachine 12. The customer equipment modules 22 can be coupled to thefacsimile machine 12 via an RS232 serial connection port 24, an infraredtransceiver port 26, a wireless local area network (LAN) port 28, or awired local area network (LAN) port 30. It should be understood thatother types of hardwired or wireless ports can also be used forcommunicating between the facsimile machine 12 and the various types ofcustomer modules 22, provided that the modules 22 have correspondingports or connectors and associated hardware for communicating with thefacsimile machine 12. As illustrated in FIG. 2, each customer equipmentmodule 22 includes an I/O controller 44, a microprocessor 46, a moduleapplication 47, and equipment memory 48. The module 22 communicates viaan RS232 port 24, an infrared transceiver port 26, a wireless LAN port28 or a wired LAN port 30. Although four ports are shown in FIG. 2,typically a customer equipment module 22 would have only one or twotypes of ports for communicating with facsimile machine 12.

As noted above each customer equipment module 22 represents one of anumber of different products for use at the customer location including,for example, postal scales, postal meters, mailing machines, inserters,personal computers, etc. Each type of customer equipment module 22performs a corresponding function as controlled by the microprocessor 46and module application 47. As noted above, such devices traditionallyrequire periodic updating with respect to rate information, applicationsoftware updates and the like, as well as conveyance of certainoperating conditions for determining the extent of use with respect tothe particular module via a telephone line. For instance, if thecustomer equipment module 22 is a postal scale, it is necessary fromtime to time to update the software modules executable by themicroprocessor 46 and which are stored in the customer equipment memory48. In addition, it may be necessary from time to time to performdiagnostics on the postal scale in which case data can be collected fromthe scale and transferred to a third party equipment module or servicecenter via a telephone line.

If the customer equipment module 22 is a postal meter, it is typicallynecessary to periodically refill the funds for use by the postal meter.Therefore, to eliminate the need for each of the several devices to havea dedicated telephone line or a switch to switch between the devicescoupled to the same telephone line, a facsimile machine 12 according tothe present invention is utilized to provide a means for communicatingbetween a service center and such customer equipment modules 22 throughthe above-mentioned ports. Thus, the facsimile machine 12 provides anintermediary mechanism for conveying information between customerequipment modules 22 and third party equipment, such as, for example, aservice center, utilizing only a single telephone line, for purposes oftransferring data to such customer equipment modules 22, as well as forpurposes of updating information at the third party equipment or at somefurther downstream location such as the U.S. Postal Service with regardto postage by phone or the like.

FIG. 3 illustrates in block diagram form a facsimile machine 12 inaccordance with the present invention. As shown, the facsimile machine12 includes a microprocessor 50, random access memory (RAM) 52, readonly memory (ROM) 54, a display 56, an input device 58, such as, forexample, a keyboard, and a modem 60. Modem 60 is coupled to telephoneline 14 via port 16. The modem 60 demodulates telecommunications signalsreceived at the telephone line port 16 into data signals fortransmission to microprocessor 50 and modulates data signals frommicroprocessor 50 into telecommunications signals for transmission atthe telephone line port 16 via telephone line 14. In addition, accordingto the present invention, the facsimile machine 12 includes aninput/output (I/O) controller 62 and an RS232 port 24, an infrared port26, a wireless local area network (LAN) port 28 and a hardwire LAN port30 as previously discussed. It should be understood that while FIG. 3illustrates four ports, the invention is not so limited and any numberof any type of port may be provided.

Microprocessor 50 is responsible for communicating with the display 56,keyboard 58, modem 60, and memory modules 52 and 54, for performing theoperations of a conventional facsimile machine. According to the presentinvention, microprocessor 50 also is responsible for communicating withthe external ports 24, 26, 28 and 30 via I/O controller 62 forcommunicating between the customer equipment modules 22 and a thirdparty equipment module, such as, for example, a service center, viatelephone line 14.

The operation of the system 10 according to the present invention willnow be described with reference to FIG. 4. Suppose, for example, asoftware update is to be provided from a service center to a customerequipment module 22. For example, if the customer equipment module 22 isa scale, a postage rate update may be necessary to ensure the properamount of postage is being determined by the scale. A service centerwill place a call via telephone line 14 to facsimile machine 12 andtransfer the data, i.e., the software update including the new postagerates, to the facsimile machine 12 in step 100. Once the data has beendownloaded to facsimile machine 12, the connection between the servicecenter and the facsimile machine 12 can be terminated, thereby freeingtelephone line 12 for other operations. In step 102, microprocessor 50determines the intended recipient of the data transfer based on a headerincluded with the data transfer. For example, the data header canidentify the specific device, based on an address or identificationnumber, for which the data is intended, or alternatively, the dataheader can specify the type of data attached and microprocessor 50 canidentify the intended device based on that information.

Once the intended recipient of the data transfer is identified, in step104 microprocessor 50 determines if the intended device is available.When the system 10 is powered up, each customer equipment module 22included in the system 10 will register with the facsimile machine 12 toprovide its address or identification number. Microprocessor 50, via I/Ocontroller 62, will continuously monitor each customer equipment module22 that has previously registered and also monitor any other availableports to determine if any additional customer equipment modules havebeen subsequently added. Microprocessor 50 also monitors the status ofeach module 22 that has registered, whether such registration hasoccurred upon initialization of the system 10 or subsequently thereto.In step 104, microprocessor 50 will determine if the intended device ofthe data transfer is available, i.e., whether the intended device hasregistered with the system 10 or not, and if the intended device hasregistered, if it is currently available to receive the data transfer.Although a module 22 may have registered with the system 10, there maybe times when the module 22 is currently in use and therefore not ableto receive any data transfers. Additionally, the service center andcustomer equipment modules 22 can also be programmed to specifydates/times when data transfers can be downloaded or transmitted viafacsimile machine 12. In the case of date/time being specified,microprocessor 50 will also check the date and/or time to determine ifthe intended device will accept the data transfer.

If it is determined in step 104 that the intended device is availableand will accept the data transfer, then in step 106 a communication isestablished with the intended device via I/O controller 62 and theappropriate port 24-30 and in step 108 the data transfer is routeddirectly to the intended customer equipment module 22. If in step 104 itis determined that the intended device is not available, i.e., eitherthe module 22 for which the data transfer is intended for is notcurrently registered with the system 10; the module 22 for which thedata transfer is intended for is currently busy and cannot accept anydata transfers; or the date and/or time criteria specified by the module22 for which the data transfer is intended are not satisfied, then instep 110 the data transfer is stored in the RAM 52. In step 112, themicroprocessor 50 monitors for availability of the intended device, andin step 114 determines if the intended device is now available and willaccept the data transfer. If the intended device is not available, instep 116 it is determined if a predetermined time period for monitoringhas elapsed or not. If the predetermined time period has not elapsed,then the monitoring continues in step 112. If it is determined in step116 that the predetermined time period has expired, then in step 118 amessage will be sent from facsimile machine 50 to the service centerindicating the data transfer has not been completed and a retry may benecessary.

If it is determined in step 114 that the intended device is nowavailable and will accept the data transfer, then in step 106 acommunication is established with the intended device via I/O controller62 and the appropriate port 24-30 and in step 108 the data transfer isrouted to the intended customer equipment module 22. For example, if themodule 22 for which the data transfer is intended is not turned on whenthe data transfer is received by facsimile machine 12, themicroprocessor 50 will continue to monitor the system until the intendedmodule 22 is turned on and registers with the facsimile machine 12. Ifthe intended module 22 is registered with the system but not able toreceive a data transfer due to current operation, the microprocessor 50will continue to monitor the system until the intended module 22 isfinished with its operation and available to receive the data transfer.

Thus, according to the present invention, data transfers from a servicecenter or the like are received by the facsimile machine 12 andidentified as to which device is the intended recipient. The facsimilemachine 12 can then send the data transfer to the intended device, orstore the data transfer for sending to the intended device at a latertime. It should be noted that memory 52 is capable of storing severaldata transfers from the service center for routing at different times.Accordingly, a service center can send data transfers intended for anyof the devices provided as part of system 10 at any time without theneed for the intended devices to be currently available to receive thedata transfers. Thus, automatic transfers can occur daily without theneed for the module 22 to be directly connected to the phone line 14.For example, a postage meter can receive daily refills of a small amountof postage without having a dedicated telephone line for the meter,thereby decreasing the risk of losing significant sums of money shouldthe meter be stolen.

According to the present invention, data transfers can also be initiatedby a customer equipment module 22. For example, if the customerequipment module 22 is a scale, it may not have all rates for everypossible shipping carrier or destination stored in its Programmable ReadOnly Memory (PROM). If a rate service which is not stored in the PROM isrequired, the scale can initiate a data transfer of the appropriaterating engine to a service center via the facsimile machine 12.Accordingly, the size of the PROM in the scale can be reduced, as thepresent invention allows for easy access for downloading additional rateservices, thereby reducing the cost of the scale. Additionally, it willnot be necessary to store many different rating engines in the scale, asthe customer can now easily contact the service center and have thedesired rating engines downloaded. If the customer equipment module 22is a postage meter, the meter can request refills upon reaching athreshold amount of postage still remaining in the meter, oralternatively, can automatically request a refill at a certain time eachday. The meter will initiate a transfer of funds from a service centervia the facsimile machine 12.

It should be noted that data transfers can also occur from the customerequipment modules 22 to the service center via facsimile machine 12. Forexample, a service center can place a call periodically to facsimilemachine 12 and request diagnostic information, such as, for example,current operating conditions, amount of usage, amount of fundsremaining, etc., from one or more of the customer equipment modules 22.Such requests can be linked to a real time clock, such that at certaintimes of the day and/or on certain dates a request is automaticallyinitiated. Once the request is received by facsimile machine 12, it canbe processed similarly to a data transfer as described above withrespect to FIG. 4, i.e., it can be sent directly to the appropriatecustomer equipment module 22 or stored in memory 52 for transfer at alater time. Upon receipt of the request for the diagnostic information,the customer equipment modules can process the request and provide thedesired information back to the facsimile machine 12 via itscorresponding port 24-30. The diagnostic information can be stored byfacsimile machine 12 in RAM 52 and sent back to the service center viatelephone line 14 at an appropriate time. Accordingly, it is notnecessary for the service center to maintain the connection viatelephone line 14 while waiting for the diagnostic information to beprepared by the customer equipment module 22, thereby freeing thetelephone line 14 for other operations.

In another example, the facsimile machine 12 can act as an agent for thecustomer equipment modules 22 to send data, messages or requests to theservice center. For example, a request for a funds transfer with theappropriate data can be sent to the service center at the request of apostage meter, or the detection of an impending failure mode at one ofthe customer equipment modules 22 can be sent to the service center viathe facsimile machine 12 at the request of the failing customerequipment module 22.

If the customer equipment modules 22 include a personal computer, system10 can also be used to download images and the like for display on thepersonal computer. For example, images of forms for value addedservices, such as return receipt, insurance, etc., can be transferredfrom a service center to facsimile machine 12 utilizing the imagingcapabilities of the facsimile machine 12. Facsimile machine 12 can thentransfer the forms to a personal computer for display, completion andprinting for use.

It should be understood that prior to the transfer of data either fromthe service center to facsimile machine 12 or from facsimile machine 12to the service center, the data can be encrypted before sending anddecrypted upon receipt to ensure that the transfer was secure and thedata has not been tampered with. Any well known data encryption anddecryption techniques may be used, such as those which use public andprivate key management.

Additionally, it should also be noted that the above described transfersof data can also be linked to the time and date. Thus, for example, adata transfer can be provided with a field indicating the time or dateon which the transfer is to occur. Upon reaching that time and/or date,the data transfer will automatically be initiated. Further, as notedabove, the service center and customer equipment modules 22 can alsospecify dates/times when data transfers can be accepted from facsimilemachine 12.

Thus, according to the present invention, a facsimile machine isprovided with one or more ports for coupling with other officeequipment, such as, for example, postage meters, postage scales,personal computers, etc. Data transfers from a service center or thelike are received by the facsimile machine and identified as to whichdevice is the intended recipient. The facsimile machine can then sendthe data transfer to the intended device, or store the data transfer forsending to the intended device at a later time. Additionally, thefacsimile machine can retrieve data transfers from the coupled devicesfor transfer to a service center. Accordingly, only a single analogtelephone line is required for all of the devices coupled to thefacsimile machine.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary ofthe invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions,deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by theforegoing description but is only limited by the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. An office business machine comprising: an input port adapted to becoupled to a telephone line; a controller coupled to said input port; amemory device coupled to said controller; a plurality of module ports,each of said plurality of module ports adapted to be coupled to one of aplurality of equipment modules; and an input/output controller coupledbetween said controller and said plurality of module ports, wherein saidcontroller is adapted to receive a data transfer intended for one ofsaid plurality of equipment modules via said telephone line, determinesaid one of said plurality of equipment modules said data transfer isintended for, and route said data transfer to said one of said pluralityof equipment modules.
 2. The office business machine according to claim1, wherein said controller is further adapted to determine if said oneof said plurality of equipment modules is available to receive said datatransfer.
 3. The office business machine according to claim 2, whereinsaid controller is further adapted to store said data transfer in saidmemory if said one of said plurality of equipment modules is notavailable to receive said data transfer.
 4. The office business machineaccording to claim 1, wherein said controller is further adapted toreceive data from said plurality of equipment modules and send said datato a service center via said telephone line.
 5. The office businessmachine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of module portsincludes a serial data port.
 6. The office business machine according toclaim 1, wherein said plurality of module ports includes an infraredtransceiver port.
 7. The office business machine according to claim 1,wherein said plurality of module ports includes a LAN port.
 8. Theoffice business machine according to claim 7, wherein said LAN port iswireless.
 9. A method for routing a data transfer comprising the stepsof: receiving said data transfer at an office business machine, saidoffice business machine having a plurality of customer equipment modulescoupled thereto, said data transfer being intended for one of saidplurality of customer equipment modules; determining said one of saidplurality of customer equipment modules for which said data transfer isintended; determining if said one of said plurality of customerequipment modules is available to receive said data transfer; and ifsaid one of said plurality of customer equipment modules is available toreceive said data transfer, routing said data transfer to said one ofsaid plurality of customer equipment modules.
 10. The method accordingto claim 9, wherein if said one of said plurality of customer equipmentmodules is not available to receive said data transfer, said methodfurther comprises: storing said data transfer in a memory.
 11. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein said step of determining said oneof said plurality of customer equipment modules further comprises:reading a header associated with said data transfer, said headerspecifying said one of said plurality of customer equipment modules forwhich said data transfer is intended.
 12. The method according to claim9, wherein said data transfer is from a service center and received bysaid office business machine via a telephone line.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 9, wherein said plurality of customer equipmentmodules includes a personal computer.